By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has assured of the continued support of the FCT Administration for the security agencies.
Wike reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to ensuring the security of lives and property in the FCT.
While noting that security of lives and property is one of the priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister reaffirmed that the FCT Administration will continue to encourage security agencies by providing them with the necessary tools to fight crime and protect lives and properties.
He made the assertion when he presented 50 operational vehicles equipped with communication gadgets to security agencies in Abuja, the nation’s capital, as part of FCTA’s efforts to help check insecurity in the Territory.
Urging members of the public to continue to pray for the security operatives and give them the necessary support rather than condemn them, Wike disclosed that security reports at his disposal showed that for every reported negative security incident in the FCT, many others were nipped in the bud by the security agents.
According to him: “It is not my responsibility or the Minister of State’s responsibility to go and engage criminals.
“But it is our responsibility to provide the tools for the security agencies to confront these criminals and make sure we sleep with our two eyes closed.
“If we do not play these roles, it will be difficult for our security agencies to carry out this function of securing lives and properties.”
A statement from the Director of Press, (Office of The Hon. Minister), Anthony Ogunleye, explained that of the 50 operational vehicles, the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Command received 24 vehicles, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FCT Command and the Department of State Services, FCT Command got eight and five vehicles respectively.
It added that a further breakdown showed that the Guards Brigade received three operational vehicles, while the Nigeria Air Force Camp, Abuja, the Naval Unit, Abuja, the Nigeria Immigration Service and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, FCT Commands, got one vehicle each and the FCTA Advance Party/Security Monitoring unit received six operational vehicles.
It further added that the minister, who frowned at the act of converting operational vehicles into personal use by security operatives, reminded them that the vehicles were purchased with taxpayers’ money and urged them to ensure that they are utilized for the benefit of the society.
He therefore charged them to also ensure that the vehicles are deployed both in the city centre and the rural areas to protect lives and properties.
Similarly, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud noted that the provision of operational vehicles for the security agencies is a significant milestone in the efforts of the FCTA to ensure security within the FCT and the neighbouring States.
Mahmoud thanked Wike for his focused leadership in the FCT and for making the vehicles available to the security agencies.
On his part, the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (operations), Kayode Ojapinwa also thanked the FCT Minister for his support to the security agencies and reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Police Command to ensuring the safety of lives and properties in the FCT.
Not left out, the Director of Security, FCTA, Adamu Gwary, said the operational vehicles will enhance the crime fighting capacity of the security agencies.
He added that it will also improve their ability to respond to emergency security situations.
